The Hockey Nuts Podcast, Season 2, Episode 38 is live!

Coming up on this episode of the Hockey Nuts, Steve and I get you caught up with all of the news of the past week around the hockey world. The NHL playoffs are almost finished with the Conference Finals, with one team already advanced to the SCF. Steve and I will get you caught up with everything that has happened in both series. We’ll have the details of all this plus the Minor League Hockey Minute, The International hockey minute and our picks of the week.

Evander Kaneand the San Jose Sharks are closing in on a seven-year contract that could be finalized on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported. The 26-year-old forward can become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his NHL career July 1. Kane was acquired by the Sharks in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres for forward Danny O’Regan and conditional first- and fourth-round picks in the 2019 NHL Draft on Feb. 26. Under the terms of that trade, the Sabres would receive San Jose’s first-round pick in the 2019 draft instead of a second-round selection if Kane re-signs with San Jose. The selection is lottery-protected and could be moved to 2020.

David Quinn is expected to be named coach of the New York Rangers, according to Sportsnet and the New York Post. Steve will have more on this as it is his pick of the week.

Antti Niemisigned a one-year, $950,000 contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. The 34-year-old goalie, who could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1, was 7-9-4 with a 3.12 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 24 games (20 starts) with three teams this season. Niemi went 7-5-4 with a 2.46 GAA, .929 save percentage and one shutout in 19 games (17 starts) with Montreal, filling in for injured starter Carey Price. The Canadiens claimed Niemi off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Nov. 14. He went 0-1-0 with a 5.08 GAA and .872 save percentage in two starts with Florida.

Paul Fenton was hired as general manager of the Minnesota Wild on Monday. Fenton replaces Chuck Fletcher, who was fired April 23. Fenton received a multiyear contract to oversee the Wild hockey operations department. Fenton, 58, spent the past 20 seasons with the Nashville Predators, including the previous 12 as assistant GM, helping them qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 11 of the past 14 seasons and reach the Cup Final in 2017. He was part of the management group that drafted defensemen Roman Josi, Ryan Suterand Shea Weber, and goalie Pekka Rinne.

The St. Louis Blues home arena will be called Enterprise Center as part of a 15-year naming-rights agreement announced Monday. The name change takes effect July 1. The building, which opened in 1994, has been called Scottrade Center since 2006. It previously was Kiel Center (1994-2000) and Savvis Center (2000-06).

When Marian Hossamissed last season with a progressive skin disorder, it left a huge void in the Chicago Blackhawks lineup. They lost a forward who was as good at preventing goals as he was at scoring them, who was a big part of every facet of their game, from 5-on-5 to the power play to the penalty kill. Now that void is permanent. Hossa told the Slovakian newspaper Novy Cas he is done playing hockey. The 39-year-old has three years remaining on the 12-year contract he signed with the Blackhawks on July 1, 2009, but played his last game for Chicago on April 20, 2017, against the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round. “Since then, I haven’t (put the gear on). Not even a single one time,” Hossa told the newspaper. “I’ve been on the ice couple of times just to skate with my daughters, but I haven’t had my hockey gear on.” Hossa’s statement was disappointing but not surprising. He was on long-term injured reserve last season and the chances of him returning to play never looked good. At the Blackhawks’ final media session of the season April 10, general manager Stan Bowman said, “[Hossa’s] physical condition hasn’t improved, so at this point there’s no indication he’s going to play next year, either.” Hossa had 1,134 points (525 goals, 609 assists) in 1,309 games in 19 NHL seasons for the Ottawa Senators, Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Blackhawks. He had 149 points (52 goals, 97 assists) in 205 NHL playoff games and won the Stanley Cup three times with the Blackhawks.

Wayne: Clinton, New York, the winner of Kraft Hockeyville™ USA 2018, will host the Buffalo Sabres® and Columbus Blue Jackets® NHL preseason game on September 25, 2018, Kraft Heinz, the National Hockey League (NHL®) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced today. The central New York historic village earned its designation as this year’s most spirited hockey community in America, $150,000 in rink upgrades and the opportunity to host the NHL matchup after amassing the most votes in the online Kraft Hockeyville USA™ 2018 contest.

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